Real Life Hannibal Lectors

The idea of cannibalism stems back thousands of years. Some ancient people did it as a means of survival when times were difficult and sometimes there were no other alternatives, like the Anasazi. Some African tribes did it as a means of taking the spirit, or part of their loved one, and incorporating it into their own being. The Aghori of India still practice cannibalism, as they believe that the dead corpses they consume from the river, brings them immortality. The idea of cannibalism in itself is not new, but it is completely taboo, if not forbidden.

Cannibalism is the eating of flesh. It stems from the Carib Indians, who were discovered by Christopher Columbus. The Caribs ate the flesh of others, and they became known as Canibales (what the Spanish called them) meaning bloodthirsty and cruel.

What makes a person want to consume another individual is beyond comprehension. Some psychologists have speculated that breastfed infants dream of devouring their mothers, and when they suffer from trauma as toddlers, the effects of such trauma and fantasy as infants leads them to be sadistic individuals as adults. Whatever the case, as adults, we know the difference from what is right, and what is inherently wrong and forbidden. Discussed will be some infamous cannibals of history. Jeffrey Dahmer will not be discussed, as his exploits are already well documented.

Sawney Beane and Family

Sawney Beane was a Scotsman who lived during the 16th century. Reportedly, he and his clan killed and consumed nearly 1000 individuals during a 25-year crime spree. He was a man of nasty temperament who took to robbery and murder. He fell for a woman who was just as wicked, and the two made their home in a cave. Through the years, the two had offspring, who then had their own; all through incestuous inbreeding. Since they lived entirely away from the world, their means of food came by humans. As soon as they set upon a person, they robbed them, and murdered them. When their disgusting acts had been executed, they set about stripping the flesh from the individual, quartering them, and pickling them. The flesh would be eaten at their leisure. So numerous was their killing, that the clan began to discard remains into the sea. Horrified local Scotsman, began executing local people in search for a reason as to why so many were going missing. Anyone associated with a dead man was considered for execution. For over two decades, the killings continued, without anyone knowing the whereabouts of the killers. The place the Beanes inhabited stretched nearly a mile underground, and when the tide came in, the water went into their subterraneous hideout nearly 200 yards.